Prelate describes relationship of mutual esteem between popes

(ANSA) - Vatican City, October 22 - Benedict XVI's secretary
admitted in an interview Tuesday that the pope emeritus was
caught off-guard when the Vatican bank chairman was ousted
during his tenure in May 2012.

Ettore Gotti Tedeschi was sacked by the Institute of
Religious Works (IOR) supervisory board amid reported
disagreements over moves to get on the UN's white list of states
with top credentials against money laundering.

"Benedict XVI, who had called Gotti to the IOR to bring
forward the policy of transparency remained surprised, very
surprised" by the no-confidence vote, prelate Georg Gaenswein
told newspaper Il Messaggero, when questioned whether Benedict
XVI had been kept in the dark on the matter.

Benedict XVI "esteemed and loved him, but out of respect
for the competencies of those who were responsible (for the
decision)," the pontiff "chose not to intervene in that moment",
but later was in contact with the ex-chairman through "discreet"
means.

Gotti Tedeschi was replaced seven months later by German
banker Ernest von Freyberg, who has focused on transparency and
international compliance as the IOR copes with questions into
its past and scandal stirred by the June arrest of a man who
once led a key Vatican accounting unit, Msgr Nunzio Scarano, who
is accused of trying to smuggle 20 million euros into the
country.

Gaenswein also admitted that his role as secretary, which
puts him in an unprecedented position as a go-between for two
popes - "a reigning pope and a pope emeritus" - has been, at
times, "a nice challenge".

"I have had some difficulty, occasional disagreeable
experiences regarding misunderstandings and jealousies, but in
the meantime, the waters have calmed," Gaeswein said.

This said, Gaenswein assured, "Fortunately, there is a
relationship of sincere esteem and fraternal affection between
(Benedict XVI) and Francis I".

Gaenswein said there is no chance Benedict would ever
interfere with Pope Francis's leadership.

"Anyone who knows Benedict XVI knows this risk does not
exist. He has never and will never intrude on the government of
the Church. It is not part of his style," Gaenswein said.